Laptop boot issue

[Kailash331]

Hello!

I'm on an HP Envy dv6. I started up my laptop after nearly two months and it was hanging after the HP logo screen. I decided to do an image recovery.  I was in the middle of the factory image recovery preparation when it froze at 26%. After waiting for nearly three hours and seeing no change, I disconnected my external hard disk and powered off the laptop in a moment of stupidity. Now when I switch it on, it says that the boot device is not found. My guess is that before it could store an image of Windows, I ended the process. What do I do now? I've tried the BIOS hard disk check and resetting the BIOS settings. I don't think I have the code which I used to install Windows (unless windows came with the laptop; I can't remember). Thank you so much!

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello @Kailash331

You get the "Boot device not found" because no operating system is present on the computer. The hard disk drive it no bootable device unless an operating system is properly installed on it.

Here are instructions how to clean install/reinstall Windows 10 - no code will be needed - it should be stored in the BIOS :

Video reference >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAvFm52IjI4

Windows reinstallation / clean installation :

- You can directly download Windows 10 ISO from MS site or download >> Media creation tool from Microsoft site, create installation DVD or installation USB  and  proceed with clean installation/reinstallation.

Download:

>> https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Make sure you select the proper version (64 bit / Home or Pro) if asked.

Media Creation tool will always provide you with the latest Windows version/build - now 1709 Fall Creators Update.

- When download completes, you will need to write  the ISO image and boot from a bootable media. You will need a blank USB pendrive (min 4 GB capacity). Use the Media Creation tool.

When ready with the USB drive or with the DVD:

Please, shutdown the computer using the power button.

Insert the Windows USB thumdrive prepared previously

Power on the PC.

As soon as you press the power-on button, start hitting the Esc button repeatedly (like tap-tap-tap).

This should open a HP Startup Menu

Choose F9 to open Boot options. Select the USB thumb drive as a boot option.

- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10. Perform clean installation/custom installation (not repair).

Delete all existing partitions and install Windows on Disc 0 Unallocated space

- After successful Windows installation, install drivers taken from HP web site or via Windows Update/Device Manager >> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03330139

- Make sure Windows is Activated by going to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Activation

- You might want to stop some of the Windows Telemetry by using free tools such as Spybot AntiBeacon or DWS Lite

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes

[Kailash331]

Hey @IT_WinSec, 

Thank you so much for responding. I will try out this method and see how it goes. 

If it works I will definitely select it as a solution.

Cheers!

[Kailash331]

Hey,

Thank you so much. The installation worked and I had a clean brand new desktop. It was ultra slow though, and there wasn't even an Internet Explorer so I couldn't download anything new. Then I shut it down to try and restart it. When I power it on, it shows the HP logo and says "Preparing Automatic Repair". What do I do? 

[IT_WinSec]

Did you try restarting the PC again just to see if it will fix on its own ?

Perform some basic hardware checks to rule out potential hardware problem

- Please, shutdown the computer using the power button (pressed and hold for a few seconds until PC powers off)

- Power the computer back on.

As soon as you press the power-on button, immediately begin hitting the Esc button (like tap-tap-tap) before any logo appears. This should open a HP Startup Menu

- Choose F2 to open System Diagnostics. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform System Test >> Quick test.

This will check major hardware componets for issue (do it just in case) . Here is more info >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JXUp43ahHA

If there are no system checks/no quick tests, perform HDD (hard disk drive) and RAM check (memory check).

Let me know the test results. 

[IT_WinSec]

With regards to Internet Explorer missing, did you see EDGE browser

[Kailash331]

HI,

I tried doing a clean install of Windows again but now while selecting a drive, drive 0 unallocated space doesn't show and no other drives are available. What do I do? 

[Kailash331]

I tried clean installing Windows again but now drove 0 unallocated space doesn't show and none of the other drIves are acceptable. What do I do? 

[IT_WinSec]

Could you please test your hardware as suggested above. Please, let me know the results.

[Kailash331]

My laptop has the option of memory test and hard drive test. I will conduct both and let you know.

Thanks!

UPDATE: My laptop passed the memory test! Conducting the quick hard drive check next, and then the extensive hard drive check.

Also, if it passes all the tests, what should I do next?

Thanks!

UPDATE 2: Quick test passed!

UPDATE 3: In the extensive check, my laptop says:

SMART CHECK: NOT INSTALLED

Long DST: NOT INSTALLED